The road to Santa Clara is officially paved. After a chaotic Week 18 that saw the Seattle Seahawks clinch the NFC's top seed and the Green Bay Packers sneak in as the final wild card, the 2026 NFL playoff bracket is set. The postseason kicks off this Saturday with a six-game slate that features historic rivalries, rookie quarterback debuts, and a battle of attrition between NFC heavyweights. As the league turns the page to the postseason, the Wild Card Weekend schedule offers no shortage of drama.

Wild Card Weekend Schedule and Matchups

The action begins Saturday afternoon in Charlotte and concludes Monday night in Pittsburgh. Here is the complete slate for the opening round of the 2025-26 NFL playoffs:

  • Saturday, Jan. 10: (5) Los Angeles Rams at (4) Carolina Panthers – 4:30 p.m. ET (FOX)
  • Saturday, Jan. 10: (7) Green Bay Packers at (2) Chicago Bears – 8:00 p.m. ET (Prime Video)
  • Sunday, Jan. 11: (6) Buffalo Bills at (3) Jacksonville Jaguars – 1:00 p.m. ET (CBS)
  • Sunday, Jan. 11: (6) San Francisco 49ers at (3) Philadelphia Eagles – 4:30 p.m. ET (FOX)
  • Sunday, Jan. 11: (7) Los Angeles Chargers at (2) New England Patriots – 8:00 p.m. ET (NBC)
  • Monday, Jan. 12: (5) Houston Texans at (4) Pittsburgh Steelers – 8:00 p.m. ET (ESPN/ABC)

The AFC's Denver Broncos (14-3) and NFC's Seattle Seahawks (14-3) have secured first-round byes and will await the lowest remaining seeds in the Divisional Round.

Spotlight: Bears vs. Packers Prediction and Preview

Perhaps the most anticipated matchup of the weekend is the Saturday night showdown at Soldier Field. For the first time since the 2010 NFC Championship, the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers will meet in the postseason. The Bears (11-6) captured the NFC North crown behind a breakout sophomore campaign from quarterback Caleb Williams, while the Packers (9-7-1) limped into the seventh seed after losing four straight games to close the season.

Despite Green Bay's recent struggles, this remains a dangerous rivalry game. The Bears vs Packers prediction models favor Chicago at home, especially with rookie receiver Rome Odunze expected to return from a foot injury. However, Jordan Love has historically performed well against Chicago, and playoff experience often narrows the gap. The Bears' opportunistic defense, which led the NFL with 33 turnovers, will look to rattle Love early. If Chicago can establish their ground game with D'Andre Swift, they should have the edge in this frigid primetime clash.

NFC East Rematch: 49ers vs. Eagles Odds

On Sunday, the injury-riddled San Francisco 49ers travel to Lincoln Financial Field to face the Philadelphia Eagles in a rematch of the contentious 2023 NFC Championship Game. The 49ers (12-5) have been decimated by injuries down the stretch, missing key defensive stars, while the Eagles (11-6) secured the No. 3 seed thanks to a strong finish from Saquon Barkley and Jalen Hurts.

Current 49ers vs Eagles odds have Philadelphia as a 4.5-point favorite. The key storyline is attrition; San Francisco is limping into the playoffs, having just lost the NFC West title to Seattle in Week 18. Conversely, the Eagles rested starters in their finale and will be the fresher team. Philadelphia's defensive front will look to exploit a banged-up 49ers offensive line, forcing Brock Purdy into uncomfortable situations. For San Francisco to advance, they will need a heroic performance from Christian McCaffrey to control the clock and keep the raucous Philly crowd at bay.

AFC Outlook: Patriots and Broncos Lead the Way

In the AFC, the New England Patriots have returned to prominence, securing the No. 2 seed with a 14-3 record behind rookie sensation Drake Maye. They will host the Los Angeles Chargers in a Sunday night game that pits Maye's scrambling ability against a disciplined Chargers defense. Meanwhile, the Denver Broncos hold home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, a massive edge given the altitude at Mile High. The AFC field also features a gritty Steelers team hosting the Texans, and a battle of former first-round picks as Josh Allen's Bills visit Trevor Lawrence's Jaguars.

Super Bowl LX Favorites

As the bracket finalizes, the betting markets have shifted. The Seattle Seahawks have emerged as the Super Bowl LX favorites (+330) after a dominant 14-3 season led by the surprising resurgence of Sam Darnold. The Los Angeles Rams (+425) follow closely behind, despite being a wild card team, due to their high-powered offense. In the AFC, the Broncos (+650) and Patriots (+900) lead the pack, while the Eagles (+950) remain a popular dark horse pick to hoist the Lombardi Trophy in Santa Clara on February 8.

With the NFL postseason bracket now locked in, the sprint to Super Bowl 60 begins. Whether it's the frozen tundra of Lambeau's rival field in Chicago or the hostile environment of Philadelphia, Wild Card Weekend promises to deliver the chaos fans crave.